Impatiens plant named Lanai

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named Lanai, characterized by its large, bright red flowers, compact growth habit with excellent selfbranching without pinching, medium green foliage, very early and uniform flowering, floriferous habit, and by its suitability to pot or hanging basket culture.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of plantknown as Impatiens and commercially known as New Guinea Impatiens. Thenew cultivar is known by the cultivar name Lanai, and was developed bythe inventor Ludwig Kientzler in Gensingen, Federal Republic of Germanyby crossing the cultivar designated D-456 (seed parent) with thecultivar Selenia (pollen parent). Selenia is disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 6,731.

Asexual reproduction by terminal (stem tip) cuttings taken by me orunder my supervision at Gensingen, Federal Republic of Germany, hasshown that the unique features of this new Impatiens are stabilized andare reproduced true to type in successive propagations.

The following characteristics distinguish the new Impatiens from bothits parent varieties and other cultivars of this general type known andused in the floriculture industry:

1. Compact growth habit with excellent branching characteristics. Plantsin 16.5 cm pots were 16.5 cm tall and 25 cm wide, eight weeks afterplanting.

2. Large, bright red flowers. Open flowers measure up to 6 cm indiameter.

3. Early flowering and very floriferous. Plants in 16.5 cm pots were inflower 7 weeks after planting.

4. Medium green foliage.

5. Well suited both to 4" pot and 8" hanging basket culture.

Lanai is similar in many respects to the parent cultivar Selenia and thecultivar Anaea, disclosed in a pending application of applicant.However, the flower color of Lanai is a unique bright red. The color isnot as dark red as Anaea and not as orange as Selenia. The leaf colorand growth habit of Lanai are similar to both Anaea and Selenia.

The accompanying colored photograph is a top perspective view of the newcultivar, showing color as true as it is reasonably possible to obtainin a colored reproduction of this type.

The following is a detailed description of my new Impatiens cultivarbased on plants grown under commercial practice in Encinitas, Calif.Plants were started as rooted cuttings and were transplanted inmid-December into 16.5 cm (6.5 inch) pots, one pot per plant. Bymed-February, plants were growing vigorously and were in flower. Thevalues, measurements and observations noted below were taken from plantsin full bloom in mid-February.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

Parentage: Cross between D-456 (seed) and Selenia (pollen).

Asexual reproduction:

A. Cutting type.--Tip, with stems 2-3 cm long developing to 4-5 cm after21 days in propagation.

B. Time to initiate roots.--8-10 days at 23° C.; nicely developed rootmass in 18-21 days.

C. Rooting habit.--Numerous, fibrous, adventitious roots from the stem.

Plant description:

A. Form.--Symmetrical, bush shaped, flowering herb, with self-branchingcharacteristics giving the plant a full appearance. Pinching is notrecommended since it does not enhance branching and only delaysflowering by removing flower buds.

B. Habit of growth.--Vigorous, self-branching habit, producing whorls ofleaves and flowers. Growth is indeterminate and flowering is continuous.

C. Foliage description.--Leaves are simple. Lower leaves on stems areopposite. Higher leaves in whorls of 3-5, but predominately 5. 1. Leafshape: ovate. Leaf blade tips are acuminate; bases are acute. 2. Leafblade size: Mature leaves 11-12 cm long and 4.5 to 5 cm wide. 3. Petiolelength: Approximately 2 cm. 4. Leaf margin: Ciliated and finelyserrated. 5. Leaf texture: Slightly rugose. a. Upper surface: Vestigesof setae distributed evenly across leaf surface. b. Under surface:Glabrous. 6. Leaf color: Medium green with a reddish petiole. a. Uppersurface: Near, but darker than 147A. b. Under surface: Greyed green,near 191A to 191B. Leaf veins are reddish. 7. Venation: Pinnate.

Flowering description:

A. Flowering habits.--Very floriferous. Flowering is continuous. Flowersdevelop progressively around the whorl of leaves, taking 5-7 days frombuds which show color, to bloom. Flowers are single and large, lastingfor 2-3 weeks.

B. Natural flowering season.--Flowering is indeterminate and occursthroughout the year. Quantity of flowers increases with increasing lightintensity and duration. However, floriferousness may wane during hotsummer days in temperate climates.

C. Flower buds.--Ellipsoidal and covered with 3 sepals plus 2rudimentary sepals fused into the under surface of the superior petal. Aspur originates from the base of the inferior sepal. Spur is reddish andapproximately 5 cm long.

D. Flowers borne.--Singly, on reddish pedicels about 5 cm long.

E. Quantity of flowers.--Usually two flowers per leaf. Flowers occurprogressively around the whorl of leaves so that tight buds to matureflowers are visible at the same time.

F. Petals.--Petals open nearly perpendicular to the pedicel so the planeof the flower surface is nearly flat. 1. Number of petals: Five (5)petals, all overlapping. 2. Shape: All petals are heart-shaped. Superiorpetal has a broad base. Other petals have a pointed base. 3. Color:Petals open nearly perpendicular to the pedicel so the plane of theflower surface is nearly flat. a. Upper surface: Near 44A. b. Undersurface: Between 44B and 44C. 4. Flower size: Up to 6 cm in diameter.

G. Reproductive organs.--FLowers are monoecious. 1. Stamens: Five (5),broad and fused to form a tube around the ovary; red in color. 2.Anther: Hooded and cream colored. 3. Pollen: Cream colored. 4. Stigma:Five pointed star, colorless. 5. Styles: Very short. 6. Ovary: 5-celled,4-5 mm long until fertilized. Grows to 1 cm or longer afterfertilization; green.

Resistance to disease: Good resistance to common stem and root disease,Rizoctonia and Pythium. Botrysis may be a problem in humid or mistpropagation environments, but no greater than with other New GuineaImpatiens cultivars.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named Lanai,as illustrated and described.